White Sox Designate Maikel Cleto For Assignment

The White Sox have announced that they’ve designated pitcher Maikel Cleto for assignment. They’ve also purchased the contract of fellow pitcher Frank Francisco.

The White Sox claimed Cleto from the Royals near the beginning of spring training, and Cleto quickly received a bit of buzz for his high-90s fastball. Things didn’t work out for him in Chicago, however, as he walked 15 batters in 14 innings of relief. Cleto pitched in the Cardinals and Royals systems in 2013, posting a 5.52 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 7.3 BB/9 in 91 1/3 innings.

Francisco signed with the White Sox in mid-April after pitching just 6 1/3 big-league innings (with the Mets) in 2013. The veteran was dominant for Triple-A Charlotte, striking out 12 batters and walking just one in eight innings there. Francisco has a 3.93 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in parts of nine seasons with the Rangers, Blue Jays and Mets.